Ruminations by a non-academic general surgeon from the heart of the rust belt.

Monday, September 29, 2008

My first internet stalker

Back in April I posted about my initial foray into the 33% tax bracket and the shock associated with getting that first bill from the IRS. Add up the local and state taxes and I paid close to 40% of my income to governmental entities last year. The point of the post was to posit the question: how much is enough? When have my societal obligations have been filled? Why is the solution to our nation's ills to raise taxes on individual families while corporations pay next to nothing?

Since then an internet troll named "Jon" has been posting comments on this blog where he calls me an elitist and various other uncomplimentary names. Big deal. But then today this "Jon" went a little too far. On the SurgeXperiences post he writes, "I did a little research", and proceeds to expose my address and the price of my house here in Cleveland (as some sort of asinine explanation for why I need to pay more taxes). Then, inexpicably, he uses my wife's name.

That doesn't happen, buddy. If anyone on this site ever uses my wife's name again or inquires into her private life I will expend all my energy and all my disposable income (according to Jon, this is substantial) to bring the perpetrator to the proper lawful authorities. Now let's all be nice.

Good God. I was talking about internet trolls with my ex, a law professor, as I've had the same problem. He thought the best remedy lay with the internet service provider rather than the criminal justice system. Good luck, and sorry to hear it.

Dear Buckeye: There are evil people in this world. Certain personalities enjoy searching out doctors, lawyers, to find out more about them and their loved ones. The internet is a public place. If you wouldn't broadcast something on a loudspeaker, or invite millions of strangers into your house....don't put it on the net....

Heathtrain- I would hope you would agree that a man's wife and kids are off limits in this setting. You don't see signs at Yankee Stadium mocking Curt Schilling's children. If someone posted KevinMD's mother's name on his site, there would be the same outrage.

Surely, we can agree on a baseline standard of decency in this blogging game. You can rip on me all you want. I'm a big boy, I can take it. But leave my loved ones out of it. Frankly, it's extremely disappointing to read your take on this.

The destructive power potential wielded by these online miscreants can be truly sobering. I'd try to nip this one in the bud in order to save yourself any further headache and/or assaults on your personal privacy.

I would suggest searching for some possible method of recourse online. There are a number of websites and blogs by people who have been victims of this type of harassment. Here's one for instance:

as an 20 something and a fan of your blog, I apologize for my entire generation (I'm sure your stalker is one of my cohort). It really is the wild west out here, no social conventions or morality seems to apply when there is so little at stake for someone like "Jon".

I guess Thomas Hobbes had something.

Let it be known that your blog is reaching many people, including some wanna-be surgeons like myself. I hope it continues to be worth it for you.

Sad situation, I blame it on our mamby-pamby society where an entire generation has grown to adulthood without ever having their ass kicked for being an asshole. Hell, you can't even shoot burglars anymore without risking a civil suit or jail time.

Buckeye,So sorry this happened, and I can't see how a spouse or--God forbid, children--can not be seen as off-limits. I disagree with Health Train: you invite ppl into your "living room" yes, but at worst, they can comment on the decor and your public manners, etc. This is the metaphorical equivalent of rifling through the bathroom cabinets or bedroom closet.

I have a background in IT/internet security and have had to deal with some of these kinds of things in the past. One piece of advice: let this be the last post on the matter; any more will give him exactly what he wants--attention.

Unfortunately, blogging under one's own identity is a troll-attractant of the 1st order. Fortunately, blogging as yourself also connects you with people in positive ways you didn't expect, as it becomes clearer with whom you're communicating. Just don't think that putting yourself out there was a mistake: for every troll that may come along you gained far more friends.

To that end, whatever resources I have at my disposal are yours if you want some assistance. Contact me privately. Rock on.

Can you get your stalker's IP address? I picked up a stalker over on Usenet a year or so ago who posted all kinds of false information about me that now comes up whenever my name is Googled (which is why I now post anonymously).

It's pretty much just annoying to me, since few people would have cause to Google my name, but it could damage your reputation if taken too far.

Your attorney can subpoena his internet provider and identify the jerk.

Wow, sorry to hear about this experience. Reminds us all of the ILLUSION of anonymity we enjoy on the internet.

As far as the tax issue goes, I have always failed to understand how playing "Robin Hood," does anything to encourage the so-called "American Dream." Aspire to be anything you like, so long as when you achieve it, you're willing to give up half your income to compensate for others' lack of achievement.

Yes Internet Stalkers are usually obsessed with their victims. Ours is a n awful human being who has harassed us for well over a year online. Her name is Angela Buer and she is an awful human being. She will probably find this post and post something retaliatory. She is 39 but acts like a 12 year old. Very unstable woman w a shady and criminal past. We started a blog to out her for her crimes:

The above comment was posted by Internet harasser and convicted felon ANGELA BUER. Angela Buer has been stalking, harassing, and defaming several people online for over a year now. She has stolen pictures from myspace pages of the victims and posted them on craigslist ads under erotic services,etc. She has also posted phone numbers and addresses of the victims in an attempt to ridicule them and harass them. She is listed on several websites as a known harasser and internet predator.

http://cyberpaths.blogspot.comlisted as a known cyberpath

http://victimsofangela.wordpress.coma blog started by the victims of Angela Buer. The blog is used to OUT Buer for her crimes against others. Buer has several police reports filed against her and has been in and out of jail for DUI's,etc.

Sorry this has happened to you. Yes there are a lot of sickos and psychos out there. Keep your chin up. This is the only way they can feel like they are still attached to you. Pretty sad that someone cant move on and their life is so sad that they have to trash you over and over again in order to feel close to you. Just know that they have no life and that they are miserable because they are sick and need medical attention

Hey Angela, Glad you left California. Good riddance! According to the DA, you "have some emotional issues". Nice try at trying to frame me for your own wrongdoings. Thanks for ending it all finally. The truth won the day here and deep down you know this. Let this be a lesson next time you decide to harass someone.

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